Auto Review: Changes to the Subaru Legacy

Bill HealdReminder News

Auto Review: Changes to the Subaru Legacy

The Subaru brand enjoys a unique position in the automotive world, especially here in the Northeast. With the exception of the sporty BRZ rear-drive coupe, the product lineup is unique in that every Subaru comes with what the company calls Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. By providing power to all four wheels whenever required, safety and general versatility are enhanced (and such technology is incredibly valuable with winter looming all around us). This standard-issue traction-exploiting hardware is one of the things that makes the midsize Legacy sedan stand out from others in the class, and for the 2015 model year the car has undergone a complete overhaul to make it more attractive and competitive than ever before. Over the past couple of decades, the car has gone from sort of a versatile econobox to something much more substantial, comfortable and refined, all while remembering core values like all-weather capability, affordability and good fuel economy. This latest version adds even more of a quality feel to an already pleasing product, and also is loaded with a lot of the latest safety advancements to make it a really solid value in the family sedan genre.

The new Legacy is built on an all-new platform, and our 3.6R Limited version sported the company's top of the range engine: a 3.6-liter Flat Six with 256 horsepower. This is teamed with a continuously variable automatic transmission (called Lineartronic by Subaru) and this in turn distributes power through Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with Active Torque Vectoring. The system takes the Six's smooth, flat powerband and distributes it to the wheels with the best traction, and response is crisp and the car is sure-footed no matter what the road conditions. A new electronic power steering system provides good feedback, which compliments the tight powertrain. The ride quality reflects all the work Subaru has done over the years to refine ride quality while maintaining solid handling characteristics, and this latest Legacy is quiet, stable and actually fun to drive thanks to the abundant torque found all through the rev range. Subaru's Eyesight Assist System includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking, Vehicle Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot warning alerts to keep the driver out of trouble (as much as is electronically possible).

While the styling of the new Legacy has been sculpted to give the sedan more of a coupe-like aspect, the biggest change is in the interior, which continues to get more upscale with each new generation. It does this on the Limited especially by using high-quality materials and making the control interfaces logical and firm to the touch. Standard on the Limited is a 7-inch center touch screen that features swipe and scrolling gesture control. Seat architecture is excellent front or back (and all leather surfaces are heated for winter comfort), and the trunk has 15 cubic feet of space to facilitate road trips.

The 2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6 Limited is EPA rated 20 MPG city/29 highway and has a base price of $29,595. With options, our MSRP came to $33,380. http://www.subaru.com